A PLACE TO BE
Saturday, February 25, 2012
BULLETIN: condo fees raised 9% and Board says future infrastructure assessments are coming
At February’s meeting three choices were brought to the table due to last year’s $221,000 budget deficit. A 6% across the board spending cut. Raise fees $5 per month plus a 4% across the board spending cut. Raise fees $20 per month to cover the total deficit with $25,000 to spare while cutting nothing.
The Board gave their old worn out talking points like “everybody knows that prices are going up” and “people up the street pay twice as much”. One director even said it's not intelligent to think cutting 6% is the answer to this problem. That made me to wonder as to who made it a choice in the first place?
Those present unanimously approved the third choice that provided them more than needed without addressing a dime in cuts. Sound familiar? The good news is this measure can still be amended so here are three suggestions.
Since it was said the $25,000 overage and the upcoming CPL savings were not in the 2012 budget, earmark these to specifically pay towards the refurbishing of our roads, sewers, and canals. This should greatly reduce or even eliminate future infrastructure assessments. Pass a motion that there will be NO employee salary increases (including this year’s $70,000 one) until Aramark manages the amenities to a near zero deficit. Lastly, recoup all Rental Office losses from those owners who chooses not to abide by the very explicit rental rules found in the Declaration and bylaws.
Does this make sense?
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The Board gave their old worn out talking points like “everybody knows that prices are going up” and “people up the street pay twice as much”. One director even said it's not intelligent to think cutting 6% is the answer to this problem. That made me to wonder as to who made it a choice in the first place?
Those present unanimously approved the third choice that provided them more than needed without addressing a dime in cuts. Sound familiar? The good news is this measure can still be amended so here are three suggestions.
Since it was said the $25,000 overage and the upcoming CPL savings were not in the 2012 budget, earmark these to specifically pay towards the refurbishing of our roads, sewers, and canals. This should greatly reduce or even eliminate future infrastructure assessments. Pass a motion that there will be NO employee salary increases (including this year’s $70,000 one) until Aramark manages the amenities to a near zero deficit. Lastly, recoup all Rental Office losses from those owners who chooses not to abide by the very explicit rental rules found in the Declaration and bylaws.
Does this make sense?
Read more...
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
February Coffee Meeting
Lots 274 and 364 want a dog park. This will be brought up at the Regular Meeting.
From the audience.
Lot 870 complained about his four year sewage smell. The GM is working to solve it thinking the air release valves need to be relocated in-between the pump stations instead of at the stations along with sending a video probe down in the affected sewer area to detect leaks.
Lot 571 asked for someone to explain this vote item he received in the Annual Meeting packet. VP McBride said our Declaration and Bylaws have us under both the Condominium Act 81 and 82. This vote is to have the Park exclusively use Condominium Act 82 and rid the park of Act 81 that holds a lot of the gray areas that lawyers can argue thus costing our Village less in lawyer fees if litigation happens over a foreclosure.
Lot 329 asked who is going to pay for the cleanup of the unused concrete being dumped in our dumpster area. GM said the Village is responsible. Owner later asked how many foreclosed lots do the Park currently have and what will be done with them? The answer was three and it has yet to be determined what to do with them.
Lot 828 asked the Board to pass a rule when a member or spouse of a member of the Board passes away that it will be put on the marquee.
Lot 708 for the second month asked what’s being done with the street lights being out. Answer was the power company has the work order.
Lot 831 asked why last Wednesday’s chicken night time was shortened. Answer, it was shorten to prepare for a 7pm event. Same person asked why not make the event start at 8pm instead. No answer, only laughter.
Lot 627 walked in and asked why we have an unused treadmill sitting in the hallway for months when we have people like right now 3 deep waiting to use one. He asked can be put it in the exercise room. Request approved.
Lot 96 said there are maintenance needs for the pavilion. Board said they will look into it.
Lot 171 had a problem with not getting channel 18 while using HD.
Lot 106-108 said there is a consistent body of water in his yard along with having low water pressure. He wondered when that might be looked at.
Lot 491 had a problem with receiving a letter from the Association. This letter as it turned out put golf restrictions upon him. He thought that the four members on the Golf Committee have overstepped their authority and wanted the Board to intervene. One member of the Golf Committee got up and explains the situation that brought them to send this letter. After hearing the explanation, the individual who received the letter said the explanation was a lie and the members on the Committee lie. After things settled it appears that the letter stays.
SC 120 said the Coastal Current had a nice article about LIV’s golf course.
The general manager requested that the Board add to next week’s agenda a discussion and vote towards a new electric CPL contract. The old 3 yr. 9 cents per kWh contract to which the previous general manager touted as a super deal is to possibly be replaced with a new 2 yr. contract at 5 cents per kWh. It will be on the agenda.
Lot 329 took issue in somehow our GM was laying pressure on the Board to make a hasty decision.
Lot 96 wanted to improve the restaurant’s window shades.
Workshop.
On the agenda for the Regular Meeting next week will be the credit card bill pay, a new CPL contract, and the dog park.
Comments.
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Wednesday, February 1, 2012
A TIDBIT
In the mist of telling everyone that our 2012 operating capital will be in the tank by a whopping $232, 000, Treasurer Steffensen again brought up the cost for Time Warner. She’s right when saying that Time Warner’s annual $181,000 price tag is a lot of money, but so is the $150,000 being thrown away to support our money pit revenue centers each year . When the Board approved this ten year Time Warner contract in 2008, it touted a monthly per unit cost of $11 with no more than a 5% increase per year and now we're told it cost just under $15. If you think about it you can’t obtain cable or satellite for twice that. If we have a 5% increase each year until the end of the contract it will be cheaper than what an individual can get today. One has to ask if there really is a problem here? Would it not be wiser to leave Time Warner alone and focus on the $70,000 Aramark salary increase, or maybe to try to create a new charge towards those who waste our water. Maybe even do something more about these money burning Revenue Centers.
Your thoughts?
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Your thoughts?
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Jan. Coffee/Regular meeting recap
COFFEE
The Lindley Creek Show band performed two ditties to give a taste of their upcoming Saturday gig.
After reading two improving the Village Grill suggestions from the box, VP McBride said there will be an upcoming vote to advertise a $15 discount coupon towards a golf/meal combo.
Workshop
It got interesting when Director Sandberg sought a need for clarification in determining who is eligible to run for the Board. Only LIV owners or designated owners of a corporation are supposed to be eligible but the Declaration/Bylaws are a bit vague. This was not the first time our Board wanted an owner eligibility clarification. The August 2009 Coffee Meeting with President Pat Burke established they were going to create a better owner clarification and some reason the subject was never brought up again.
Dick Lothe, Steve Fowler, and V.P. McBride encouraged the Board to consider what they thought was a fair Sun Harbor swing bridge assessment increase and Pat Burke indignantly argued against it.
Director Deitrick said he will address the policy review he conducted at the next regular meeting and asked that the Board read his review. He talked about the enforcement of traffic rules, forming an extra D-E entity to sponsor LIV activities, and closed with saying in adding to Director Sandberg’s board member clarification issue, we as a Board should also consider making it a rule disqualifying those who resign.
Regular
Pat Burke anxiously voiced her disgruntlement over the way Dick Lothe, Steve Fowler, and VP McBride asked the Board to calculate Sun Harbor’s share of swing bridge assessments.
The Park assessment arrear total this month was $29085 and LIV has recently obtained three foreclosed properties.
The dredging project awaits an approved site to dump material somewhere on Freeland’s property. The Rodriguez Brothers Dredging Company who is currently doing a project for SPI has met three times with our GM and figures to be our Board’s best choice. No dollar figure yet but one would think not having to pay to ship their equipment and crew down here would save our park a ton of money. It seems this company has a month left to do for SPI before they could start our one week canal project.
Last year’s Revenue Center winner and losers (January thru November, 2011)
Village Grill -$51.877 LOSER
Golf Course -$68,509 LOSER
Rental Depart. -$27,591 LOSER
Laundry -$1,865 LOSER
Newsletter was the only WINNER spewing a +$3180 figure.
The Finance Committee will be busy prioritizing this year’s Major Improvement Fund that exceeds $200,000.
The 2012 OPERATING CAPITAL forecast.
REVENUES are expected to be down by $50,000.
COSTS will be higher due to increases in water, Swing Bridge, and Time Warner costs, but the biggest firm increase will be the $70,000 increase in Aramark salaries. Last year the water was $91,000 over budget and expected to be $86,000 over this year. It was made clear that watering the Golf Course was not the reason for these increases.
Bottom line there will be a $233,000 Operating Capital deficit for next year.
After hearing hullabaloo over children driving golf carts and amendments to a few policy revisions, all revisions were approved.
A $15 coupon for golf and meal approved.
In the near future LIV may accept the use of a credit card to pay assessments. When approved the idea is to use the LIV’s internet site at a (10 cents) per transaction cost and of course any small hidden fees.
Read more...
The Lindley Creek Show band performed two ditties to give a taste of their upcoming Saturday gig.
After reading two improving the Village Grill suggestions from the box, VP McBride said there will be an upcoming vote to advertise a $15 discount coupon towards a golf/meal combo.
Workshop
It got interesting when Director Sandberg sought a need for clarification in determining who is eligible to run for the Board. Only LIV owners or designated owners of a corporation are supposed to be eligible but the Declaration/Bylaws are a bit vague. This was not the first time our Board wanted an owner eligibility clarification. The August 2009 Coffee Meeting with President Pat Burke established they were going to create a better owner clarification and some reason the subject was never brought up again.
Dick Lothe, Steve Fowler, and V.P. McBride encouraged the Board to consider what they thought was a fair Sun Harbor swing bridge assessment increase and Pat Burke indignantly argued against it.
Director Deitrick said he will address the policy review he conducted at the next regular meeting and asked that the Board read his review. He talked about the enforcement of traffic rules, forming an extra D-E entity to sponsor LIV activities, and closed with saying in adding to Director Sandberg’s board member clarification issue, we as a Board should also consider making it a rule disqualifying those who resign.
Regular
Pat Burke anxiously voiced her disgruntlement over the way Dick Lothe, Steve Fowler, and VP McBride asked the Board to calculate Sun Harbor’s share of swing bridge assessments.
The Park assessment arrear total this month was $29085 and LIV has recently obtained three foreclosed properties.
The dredging project awaits an approved site to dump material somewhere on Freeland’s property. The Rodriguez Brothers Dredging Company who is currently doing a project for SPI has met three times with our GM and figures to be our Board’s best choice. No dollar figure yet but one would think not having to pay to ship their equipment and crew down here would save our park a ton of money. It seems this company has a month left to do for SPI before they could start our one week canal project.
Last year’s Revenue Center winner and losers (January thru November, 2011)
Village Grill -$51.877 LOSER
Golf Course -$68,509 LOSER
Rental Depart. -$27,591 LOSER
Laundry -$1,865 LOSER
Newsletter was the only WINNER spewing a +$3180 figure.
The Finance Committee will be busy prioritizing this year’s Major Improvement Fund that exceeds $200,000.
The 2012 OPERATING CAPITAL forecast.
REVENUES are expected to be down by $50,000.
COSTS will be higher due to increases in water, Swing Bridge, and Time Warner costs, but the biggest firm increase will be the $70,000 increase in Aramark salaries. Last year the water was $91,000 over budget and expected to be $86,000 over this year. It was made clear that watering the Golf Course was not the reason for these increases.
Bottom line there will be a $233,000 Operating Capital deficit for next year.
After hearing hullabaloo over children driving golf carts and amendments to a few policy revisions, all revisions were approved.
A $15 coupon for golf and meal approved.
In the near future LIV may accept the use of a credit card to pay assessments. When approved the idea is to use the LIV’s internet site at a (10 cents) per transaction cost and of course any small hidden fees.
Read more...
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Oct.26,2011 Board Meeting
The Village attorney Ramona Kantack Alcantara started the meeting addressing a need to amend Declaration of Covenants in order to save possibly large sums in attorney fees for collecting assessment arrears. New 2012 Texas laws will now make it harder for Associations not governed by Section 82 of the Condominium Act to collect late assessments.Our Village is currently is using section 81 and 82 that leaves gray areas in which an attorney can argue, thus costing Village owners due to prolonging the litigation process.There will be a concerted effort by our Board to make this change. The Board might also include improve clarification about our Limited Common Elements.
There was no Manager’s Report.
Owner’s Speaking.
Lot? Owner brought up for a second time his problem with a neighbor’s dog.
Treasurer’s Report.
Treasurer Steffensen reported that as of August the Village had $20,248 less in revenues while expenses increased by $270,576. The Profit Loss posted for August showed the Grill being a $43,853 loser, the Golf Course a $55,525 loser, the Rental Office a $9574 loser, and the Laundry a $322 loser. Our Newsletter has made $3672 so far.
Treasurer Steffensen touched on the condo fee arrears with saying the Village has 117 owners over 16 days late totaling $67,633, 8 over 30 days totaling $3057, 1 over 60 days totaling $765, and 16 owners are over 90 late being handled by the attorney totaling $32,067.
Committees
D-E (Director White) announced the Village sponsored events have been published. Upcoming is a morning Trash and Treasure and Catholic Daughters of America Casino night this Saturday.
Golf Committee (Director Sandberg) announced their first meeting will be on November 3rd.
Pool Committee (Treasurer Steffensen) said the gazebo is being redone. Four of the straight back lounges are being sold at the Trash-Treasure sale and will be replaced with adjustable back lounges.
Policy Committee (Director Deitrick) said sometime in November his committee will make some suggestion to the Board on a format to address ten to twelve years’ worth of policies.
Bridge Board report (VP McBride) announced that it has been five years since a Board has checked and updated the Swing Bridge assessments. It was found that Sun Harbor should be charged twice as much as what is currently being collected.
There was a reference that Port Isabel has a legal issue with our Bridge that needs addressing.
Unfinished Business.
Berry Pools (Director Sandberg).There was to be a meeting with Berry Pools last Thursday towards cancellation of service and the results of that meeting will be brought up at the next Coffee.
Infrastructure (Treasurer Steffensen) said they still only have one pavement bid and then went through the bids in replacing the big windows in the Activity Center’s east lobby (poolside). Lowest bid to replace all was $37,413. Bid to remodel and enclose the upper windows was $3,900 and install the six lower windows ranged from $12,000 to $21,000.
Dredging issue has been slowed due over finalizing a dredging spoil disposal site. Director Gagan brought up that there are many owner boat docks in need of major repair and asked if the Board can do anything about it.
New Business.
Website (Treasurer Steffensen) spoke of the updates to the Village website. One feature is that you can now go online to fill out the form to check in your guest. A classified section will also be introduced.
Trailer Locks (Director Deitrick) a motion was passed to buy up to $300 worth of additional trailer locks to put on a violator’s trailer.
Committees (Director Sandberg) it was brought up that there are a growing number of owners wanting to be involved with committees but find that there are no positions available. VP McBride suggested that we enforce a previous Board's open committee policy passed several years back.This would provide owners wanting to help to expess their ideas to the committee.
Fine-citation Adjustments (Director White) after a lengthy discussion containing different ideas nothing was resolved.
Newsletter Survey (Treasurer Steffensen) said after three months this survey produced 104 responses on newsletter delivery. It showed that 78 wanted it mailed to them and 26 wanted it email to them. It was mentioned that owners can read the Newsletter on the first of the month from our Village website. It was also expressed having only 104 responses from 1024 owners show that most Villagers don’t care to read the newsletter, making it possibly a waste of money mailing it to all.
Activity Center (Deitrick) suggested that the Activity Center do more in promoting tourism saying there are agencies wanting to promote their tours to owners in our Park.
Executive Meeting.
Adjournment
Read more...
There was no Manager’s Report.
Owner’s Speaking.
Lot? Owner brought up for a second time his problem with a neighbor’s dog.
Treasurer’s Report.
Treasurer Steffensen reported that as of August the Village had $20,248 less in revenues while expenses increased by $270,576. The Profit Loss posted for August showed the Grill being a $43,853 loser, the Golf Course a $55,525 loser, the Rental Office a $9574 loser, and the Laundry a $322 loser. Our Newsletter has made $3672 so far.
Treasurer Steffensen touched on the condo fee arrears with saying the Village has 117 owners over 16 days late totaling $67,633, 8 over 30 days totaling $3057, 1 over 60 days totaling $765, and 16 owners are over 90 late being handled by the attorney totaling $32,067.
Committees
D-E (Director White) announced the Village sponsored events have been published. Upcoming is a morning Trash and Treasure and Catholic Daughters of America Casino night this Saturday.
Golf Committee (Director Sandberg) announced their first meeting will be on November 3rd.
Pool Committee (Treasurer Steffensen) said the gazebo is being redone. Four of the straight back lounges are being sold at the Trash-Treasure sale and will be replaced with adjustable back lounges.
Policy Committee (Director Deitrick) said sometime in November his committee will make some suggestion to the Board on a format to address ten to twelve years’ worth of policies.
Bridge Board report (VP McBride) announced that it has been five years since a Board has checked and updated the Swing Bridge assessments. It was found that Sun Harbor should be charged twice as much as what is currently being collected.
There was a reference that Port Isabel has a legal issue with our Bridge that needs addressing.
Unfinished Business.
Berry Pools (Director Sandberg).There was to be a meeting with Berry Pools last Thursday towards cancellation of service and the results of that meeting will be brought up at the next Coffee.
Infrastructure (Treasurer Steffensen) said they still only have one pavement bid and then went through the bids in replacing the big windows in the Activity Center’s east lobby (poolside). Lowest bid to replace all was $37,413. Bid to remodel and enclose the upper windows was $3,900 and install the six lower windows ranged from $12,000 to $21,000.
Dredging issue has been slowed due over finalizing a dredging spoil disposal site. Director Gagan brought up that there are many owner boat docks in need of major repair and asked if the Board can do anything about it.
New Business.
Website (Treasurer Steffensen) spoke of the updates to the Village website. One feature is that you can now go online to fill out the form to check in your guest. A classified section will also be introduced.
Trailer Locks (Director Deitrick) a motion was passed to buy up to $300 worth of additional trailer locks to put on a violator’s trailer.
Committees (Director Sandberg) it was brought up that there are a growing number of owners wanting to be involved with committees but find that there are no positions available. VP McBride suggested that we enforce a previous Board's open committee policy passed several years back.This would provide owners wanting to help to expess their ideas to the committee.
Fine-citation Adjustments (Director White) after a lengthy discussion containing different ideas nothing was resolved.
Newsletter Survey (Treasurer Steffensen) said after three months this survey produced 104 responses on newsletter delivery. It showed that 78 wanted it mailed to them and 26 wanted it email to them. It was mentioned that owners can read the Newsletter on the first of the month from our Village website. It was also expressed having only 104 responses from 1024 owners show that most Villagers don’t care to read the newsletter, making it possibly a waste of money mailing it to all.
Activity Center (Deitrick) suggested that the Activity Center do more in promoting tourism saying there are agencies wanting to promote their tours to owners in our Park.
Executive Meeting.
Adjournment
Read more...
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
SEPTEMBER 28TH BOARD MEETING
Lot 155 suggested putting windows only in the lower area when our Village replaces the large Activity Center windows located by the ping pong table and fill in the upper portion with a solid material. He felt it would look just as nice while conserving energy costs. The Board liked his idea.
GM Horner reported last month they had 97 work orders, six building permits, and condo fee arrears totaled $30,136. They were currently monitoring and adjusting the sprinkler system so maximum water pressure is being used when watering. In response to last week’s Coffee question Rick confirmed that maintenance internally inspects the fire hydrants during fire prevention week. He sadly announced that Armando had a spell at the employee’s picnic outing that resulted in a possible need to correct a left artery clog. As of October 12th Armando is not working and tests are still being done.
The August Minutes were approved.
President Montalvo said the Board will focus on the Village Grill/Pro Shop revenues and expenses moving forward. Our GM did say last year he came under fire when he temporarily closed the Pro Shop. He said it doesn’t make sense though to pay to be open when Pro Shop revenues are just $35 a day.
D and E is to have a Halloween cocktail party on October 31st and Trash and Treasures on November 4th..
Golf Committee Director Sandberg brought up an annual green fee credit request asked for by Dennis Zylman. Board members had no problem with his request but stated it’s not actually an issue that the Board needs to address. Director Sandberg said she understands that but Dennis thought this should be brought to the Board attention since he is also on the Golf Committee. Director Sandberg also told the Board that many who golf thought that any owner over ninety years of age should have an honorary golf membership. This was later voted on and passed under new business.
GM Horner said Berry Pool’s response to LIV’s termination request is that they have a contract with LIV until next April. President Montalvo said should be a lesson learned that there should be an LIV out clause on every contractual agreement. The GM again expressed that the Berry Pools contract he had on file had a 30 day termination notice. He had no knowledge that a different contract was approved by a previous Board that substituted this 30 day out clause with a 30 day notice at the end of the annual contract. We learned that Berry Pools indicated an LIV resident told them LIV wanted this termination for no other reason than to change the purification systems and that is why Berry Pools feels the current contract should be honored. It was said that whoever this owner is appears to be intentionally undermining this Board. President Montalvo said the action by this owner was not the problem,the real fault here is that this contract should have never been approved or signed in the first place.
Executive Session
After the Meeting came to order the owner from lot 145 expressed having a problem with the current watering of the common areas and wanted to organize teams of owners to edge Village streets.
Motion was approved to accept the current non-disclosed terms set forth in the M. O. Berry lawsuit. The Board took note to an owner saying that a non-disclosure of terms cannot legitmently be expressed in the minutes.
Motion was approved to start accepting dredging bids.
Adjournment
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